let the journey begin ...

January 8 through 9 ... posting this a day late because I was so tired after we arrived ... more later today!

Our travel from Louisville to Tel Aviv proceeded without significant event as all of us survived the long layover in Newark as well as the “sardines in a can” feel of a full aircraft. When we came in over the Mediterranean, we were greeted with blue skies, but by as we began loading up our tour bus  darkness had settled in.

During the roughly two-hour journey north to Akko, I thought how interesting it was that night was hiding the differences of this place. For instance, we traveled along a six lane divided highway, resplendent with street lights and familiar green information signs, the twinkle of lights from homes and towns off in the distance not unlike any Interstate trip in the US. I even noticed that on a few occasions we could see gas stations adorned in BP green and white, and the familiar “golden arches” beckoning travelers to exit for fast food … only the Hebraic text on signs and subtle differences in the vehicles traveling alongside us seemed to challenge this illusion of sameness.

We arrived at our hotel by about 7:30 Sunday evening, and after factoring out 7 hours for the time change, I determined since leaving home early Saturday morning I had been traveling for almost 26 hours. After picking up the room key, I enjoyed exploring my home for the next two nights, splashed some water on my face and made my way back down to our meeting room for devotions, which were followed by a wonderful buffet dinner. Back in my room, I opened the window so I could listened to the waves coming up on the beach behind the hotel, and heard what sounded like Arabic chants floating across the Mediterranean as I drifted off to sleep.